Lewis: Time to move on from fiasco

Tuesday 3 January 2006 00:11 BST

Rugby Football League supremo Richard Lewis has described the Nathan Fien 'grannygate' row as "an unfortunate experience for Rugby League".

New Zealand were on Thursday stripped of the two points earned by Saturday's 18-14 win over Great Britain in Christchurch after a tribunal determined that Australian-born hooker Fien was ineligible to play for the home side.

Lewis, RFL executive chairman and a member of the four-man Tri-Nations sub committee, said: "It was an unfortunate experience for Rugby League from which nobody took any pleasure but now it is time to move on."

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) hearing also banned Fien from playing for the Kiwis for the remainder of the competition after it was revealed his only genetic connection to New Zealand was that his great grandmother was born in Wanganui.

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) responded by apologising for fielding an ineligible player and confirmed they will not appeal against the two-point penalty.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble, preparing his side for Saturday's clash with Australia in Sydney, is already looking forward to the next meeting with New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday week.

The hearing ruling puts New Zealand level again with Great Britain on no points and means that when the teams meet again it will be a one-off game to decide who goes though to the final to play Australia, who have now already qualified.

"It makes it interesting in Wellington," said Noble. "I'm sure the Westpac Stadium will be pretty full."

However, Noble dismissed claims that the verdict brings Great Britain back into the series as they also have to play Australia twice.

"With three games to go we think we're in it anyway," he said. "Our focus is us and always has been."